A type of hearing device that bypassess the cochlea in the middle ear and the auditory nerve and is implanted in the brainstem. The ABI does not require the prescence of the cochlear nerve or blood supply.

A hearing device for persons who are single-side deaf which works through bone conduction with a sound processor attached to a small titanium implant. The sound processor is placed on the deaf side, behind the ear and sound is transferred through the bone of the skull, stimulating the cochlea in the hearing ear. The brain is then able to distinguish between the sounds that it receives from the deaf side, via this system, from the sound that it receives directly from the hearing ear. This ultimately results in the sensation of hearing from the deaf side.

The British Acoustic Neuroma Association (BANA) is an international, registered charity organization in the United Kingdom, that is dedicated to promoting the exchange of mutual support and information among individuals affected by acoustic neuromas, with similiar purposes to ANA.

Located behind the brainstem, extending from the brainstem out toward each mastoid bone. It carries 11% of the brain's weight and controls muscular coordination.

COCHLEAR IMPLANT (CI)

Cochlear implants are indicated when the patient has significant hearing loss in both ears. In addition, the ear to be implanted must still have the cochlear nerve and blood supply intact. Unfortunately, this is often not the case in patients with acoustic neuromas because the of the size of the tumor or treatment with radiation and/or surgery. However, some patients after tumor removal have some remaining hearing, and then they lose hearing in the other ear. It is a small complex electronic device that is implanted within the inner ear to increase hearing capabilities. Whereas hearing aids amplify sound, cochlear implants compensate for damaged or non-working parts of the inner ear. A cochlear implant electronically finds useful sounds and then sends them to the brain.

A special X-ray test which creates a cross-sectional picture of any part of the body. This X-ray can distinguish among tissue, fluid, fat and bone, and, after intravenous injection of a dye, will show an acoustic neuroma unless the tumor is very small.

A robotic radiosurgery system that delivers multiple beams of radiation, used to treat benign tumors and cancers and other medical conditions located anywhere in the body. It consists of a linear accelerator and a robotic arm, delivered in multiple sessions.

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ENT) PHYSICIAN

A physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the head and neck, especially those involving the ears, nose and throat (ENT). Also called an Otolaryngologist.

A recording of the eye movements, usually done to confirm the presence of involuntary eye movements but can also be done in cases of vertigo to determine if there is damage to the vestibular portion of the acoustic nerve or in cases of possible acoustic neuroma.

The Gamma Knife is a radiosurgical machine that contains 201 separate radioactive cobalt sources. The radiation beams from each source (gamma rays) are focused together at the tumor.

INTENSITY MODULATED RADIATION THERAPY (IMRT)

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that utilizes computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver precise radiation doeses to a tumor or specific areas within the tumor.

A short auditory canal in the petrous portion of the temporal bone, part of the base of the skull that extends from the ear towards the center of the head, through which pass the vestibulocochlear and facial neves.

Linear accelerator is a radiosurgical machine that produces radiation electronically. These radiation beams are called X-rays. LINACs are also commonly used for conventional radiation treatment of tumors elsewhere in the body.

A body imaging system employing a magnet which surrounds the patient. A magnetic field causes small harmless movement of the atoms in the area of the body being studied. A low energy radio wave is then passed through the same area and the small change this imparts to the atoms in the magnetic field causes signals to be emitted which are picked up and analyzed by modern computer technology. An image of the tissue is produced in clear detail. Copies of MRI's are available to patients.

Proton radiation differs from the photon radiation produced by both the Gamma Knife and LINAC systems. Proton beams have a unique physical property that allows them to be sharply focused within a tumor. They are theoretically advantageous for radiosurgery treatment.

A technique based on the principle that a single or fractionated dose of radiation delivered precisely to a small area will arrest or kill the tumor, while minimizing injury to surrounding nerves and brain tissue and/or function. Typically this is performed in a single session.